Pipe-suspension device



March 10, 1931. c. DEAN ET AL PIPE SUSPENSION DEVIC'E 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 9, 1926 INVENTORS.4 6/ /6Lfz.&4/l 62a 5 /F/0/// 5 Ma rch 10,1931. c. L.'DEAN ET AL PIPE SUSPENSION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNOV. 9 192 INVENTORS. 679071. 05444 Gm 5 Emma 1 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 IUNITED STATES PATENT, OFF-ICE CHARLES L. DEAN, FRANK LOCKWOOD, ANDGEORGE B. RICHIE, OF DENVER, COLO- RADO, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO WILLIAM. A. TROUT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ANDCHARLES R. BUTLER AND CHESTER A. RASMUSSEN,

BOTH OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA PIPE-SUSPENSION DEVICE Application filedNovember 9, 1926. Serial No. 147,251.

This invention relates to the suspension of casings for oil wells andits primary ob]ect resides in providing a novel method of placing andsuspending the concentric strmgs of casings commonly used in oil wells.

-Our improvements reside more partlcularly in the formation andconstruction of the head or stack from which the casings are suspendedand it is, a further ob ect of the 1 invention to provide simple andhighly efiicient means for the suspension of the casings from thecomponent sections of the stack after the casings have been placed intension and cut to the required length.

The suspension means are distinguished by many advantageous featuresprincipal among -Which are; 1st, its possible automatic application whenthe stack-sections are placed in their proper relative position after acasing string associated with an upper section has been lowered into thewell to the required depth; 2nd, its dependable action in positivelyassuming its operative relation to the casing when or after the uppersection of the stack is placedupon a lower section;

3rd, its permanent association with the easing after it has been placedin its operative position, positively preventing accidental separationirrespective of jars or stresses to which the suspension-structure maybe sub jected or of breakage of any of the parts of Which the structureis composed; 4th, its

clamping action upon the part of the casing with WhlCh it is directlyassociated; and 5th, its capability of being adjusted to its operati've'position relative to the casing for its -suspension from the stackwithout rotation ofany of the sections of which the stack is composed. 5a

Other objects and advantagesof-the invention will be fully brought outin the course 5 of the following description made with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings in the several views of which like parts have beensimilarly designated Figure 1 represents a fragmentary vertical sectionof the head or stack of an oil well showing the suspension means intheir 0 erative position as well as in their con ition prior to theirapplication to the respective string of casing,

Figure 2, a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 Figure 1,

Figure 3, a fragmentary plan view of one of the stack-sections showing amodification of the appliance employed in the application of thesuspension element of the invention,

Figure l, a sectional elevation of an oil well stack and casingassembled and constructed in accordance, with the resent invention, anddrawn to a reduced sca e,

Figure 5, a sectional elevation of one of the members of the suspensionelement of the invention,

Figure 6, a fragmentary horizontal section showing a modification in theconstruction of'the suspension element,

Figure 7, a vertical, partially sectional elevation illustratin amodified method of suspending the casing from a section of the stack,

Figure 8, a-horizontal section in the plane indicated by the line 8-8Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows,

- Figure 9, a section similar to that of Figure 7, but drawn to asmaller scale, showing an other modification of the suspension means,

Figure 10, a vertical partially sectional elevation of two of thestack-sections illustrating still another modification of the elementemployed for-suspending the casing in the stack, a

Figure 11, a section on'the line 1111 Figure 6, and

Figure 12 a fragmentary horizontal section showing a modified method ofplacing the ring-segments of the suspension element in engagement withthe collar of the casing.

Re erring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 5designates the basemember of the stack which usually is supported on a,suitable foundation and which supports the outer casing 6 of the well.This outer casing serves in the capacity of a retaining wall in thefirst stage of boring the well and when in place provides a passage, forthe drilling tool in boring the well to greaterdepth. f

The next following string of easing whi obviously is of smallerdiameter, is lowered into the outer casing through the medium of aso-called drilling nipple connected at the upper end of the casing bymeans of a screwthreaded coupling. After the inner casing has beenlowered to the entire depth of the well, it is tensioned by upwardmovement of the nipple, and it is marked at a point above the stack toindicate its required length, and subsequently cut andexteriorlythreaded for the application of a collar by which the casing issubsequently adjusted to its proper position in the well and whichcooperates with the suspension element to hold the casing in place.

, The collar designated by the numeral 7 is interiorly screw-threaded atone end for its connection with the corresponding end of the casing 8and it has in its'opposite upper end a screw thread for the applicationof a lifting pipe 9 by means of which the casing is raised to its properposition with reference to the stack.

It is an aim of the invention to use the collar as a medium forsuspending the casing from the base or from a thereto superimposedsection of the stack as the case may be, and it is for this purposeprovided with a central circumferential groove 10' which provides ashoulder for its connection with the suspension element properhereinafter to be described. I

The stack hereinbefore repeatedly referred to is built up of sections 12superimposed on the base member in vertical alinement. The sectionscommonly known as spools by reason of their form, are each composed of ahollow body of somewhat conical form having upper and lower flangesprovided with outwardly projecting slotted lugs for the application ofbolts 13 by which thelower section is connected with the base member andeach ripper section is connected with the section immediately 'below thesame. At the lower end ofv the spool is an annular recess 14 providedwith an inwardly projecting segment 15 and at the opposite, upper end ofthe same is an inwardly projecting rim 16 for the application of apacking ring 17 at the upper edge of the collar 7.

The suspension element hereinbeforereferred to comprises a plu'ralityofsegmental members 18 fastened at their outer peripheries inside of anormally circular split spring 19. The members 18conjointly form abroken ring which when the spring is released and allowed to contractengage upon the outer surface of the collar as indicated in the lowerportion of Figure 1, and they are provided with inwardly projectingribs- 18a adapted to enter into the circumferential groove of thecollar.

The spool in which the suspension element is disposed rests normally oneither. the spool immediately below the same or on the landmeans ingbase and when the suspension element occupies its operative positionwith relation to the collar as hereinabove described, it likewise restson the lower spool or on the landing base and thereby supports thecollar and the string of casing to which it is connected, againstvertical displacement.

The segmental members of the suspension element have at their lowersurface, ridges 180 which fit inside the spool or base on which theelement is supported and thereby lock the members against lateralmovement to prevent their accidental separation from the collarunderstresses due to the weight of the casing or other causes.

The members also extend a distance above the groove of the collar tofirmly engage with the exterior surface of the same. The extensions 18dexert a clamping action on the collar by the weight of the casing suspended from the ribs, which greatly increases the holding power of thesuspension element.

Before the spool is applied for the suspension of its respective stringof casing, the spring of the suspension-element is in a slightlyexpanded position, held in the recess of the spool by the engagement ofits ends with the shoulders formed at opposite ends of the segmentalprojection 15 of the recess 14, as illustrated in the upper portion ofFigure 1 and in Figure 2. The spring thus positioned spreads thesegmental members apart so that the spool may freely move upon thecollar of the casing and it is an important feature of the constructionthat when the suspension element is in its inoperative position thesegmental members thereof project below the stack-section with which thesuspension element is associated so that the section cannot be loweredto its final position upon the base or the next lower section until thespring has been released from the shoulders in the recess for thepurpose of permitting the locking-members to enter the groove of thecollar.

When the spring is released from the recess, the spool is free to moveto its supporting surface and the operation is completed by fasteningthe spool in place by means of bolts inserted in the notches of the lugson its lower flange and of the therewith registering lugs of the upperflange of the base or the lower spool.

In order to permit of their entering the recess of the spool, thesegmental'ring sections are shouldered below their extensions to providean outstanding rid e 186 to which the sping is attached. This ridge isof greater height than the recess of the spool so that when the springis expanded in the recess, the segments project a greater distance belowthe spool than when the spring is contracted and the segments haveentered the groove of the collar.

The above described arrangement has the added advantage of placing thespring and the segments out of alinement with the recess when thesuspension element is" in its operative position thereby locking thesections against accident lateral displacement and insuring their properposition in the groove of the collar.

For the purpose of releasing the springs from the shoulders in therecess when the spool is being lowered on the collar of the casing, thebase-plate and each of the spools is proyided with a wedge-shapedprojection 20 extending above its upper surface, and the recess of eachspool has a space 21 rearward of one of the ends of its shoulderedsegment into which the wed e may enter.

It will be noted t at when the spool is loweredlthe wedge will graduallyrelease one of the ends of the spring from the shoulder in the recesswith which it engages and thereby cause the spring to contract atsubstantially the same moment that the downward movement of the spoolisarrested by contact with its supporting surface.

The wedge as shown in Figure l is provided by a .pointed stud screwedinto an opening in the upper surface of the spool but it is to beunderstood that other releasing means, either automatic, or manuallyadjusted, may be employed Within the scope of the invention. K

The spools have in their annular body portions between their flanges,screw-threaded openings 23 for the attachment of conduits through whichgases may escape from the well and the stack and packing rings areapplied between the spools as at 24, in addition to the packing-rings'17 between the collars and the inwardly extending rims 16 at the upperends of the spools. These packings preven. LL: gases from escapingotherwise than through the openings provided for the purpose. itt is tobe noted that the spaces between the ring-sections by which the casingis suspended in the stack provide passages forthe unobstructed flow ofthe gases to the openings 23. i

The spools may be provided with centering vanes as shown at25 in Figure1 to facilitate the placement of the spools around the collars. It is tobe understood that the same means for suspending the casings from thespool sections of the stack may be employed to conmeet the outer casingwith the base section of the same, as illustrated in Figure 4. 7

It is a distinctive feature of the constructionhereinabovedescribed'that the suspension element must be in place withrelation -to the collar of the casing before the spool with which theelement is associated can be lowered to its final position.

The suspension-element illustrated in Figures 6 and 11 differs from theother in that the ing-segments 18 are fastened to the spring l9 by meansof bolts 37, the heads of which extend in a recess 38 of the stacksection and thereby hold the element against vertical niotion, therecess being formed in the section at i a short distance above its lowerend. But one end of the spring engages a shoulder 39 in the recess andthe opposite end of the sprin ,is held in place 'by a screw-boltextendlng through an opening of the stack-section.

The spring is released by unscrewing the bolt from its threadedaperture, which causes the spring to contract and thereby free its otherend from the shoulder in the recess.

It will be ,understood that the ring-segments may be applied to theshouldered collar without the aid of a spring, either manually beforethe spool is placed over the collar or by set-screws extending throughthreaded openings in the spool, the last mentioned modification havingbeen illustrated in Figure 12 in which one of the set-screws isdesignaited by the reference numeral 26.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the collar27 on the casing 8 is supported on a ledge 29 in one of thestack-sections 12 through the medium of two sectional rings 30 and 31and an interposed packing 32. The packing is preferably composed ofthree rings in pyramidal arrangement so that they may expand against thewalls of the stack-section and the casing by the superimposed weight ofthe casing.

. The packing 17 between the collar and I the stack-section is appliedas before, but the packing which in the first described construction wasapplied between the stacksections, may be dispensed with.

The modification illustrated in Figure 9 "differs from that of Figure 7in that the upper ring 30 is eliminated andvits function is performedbyan extension 33 of the spool around the collar, adapted to enter thespool on which the casing is suspended, for engage.- mentwith thepacking placed upon the lower ring. In this form of the invention thepacking which in the other construction is disposed between the upperend of the collar and a ridge in the spool around the same, may beomitted.

In-the construction illustrated in Figure 10 the casing is suspendedfrom the lower stacksection by means of a sectional ring 34: seated in arecess at the upper end thereof. Packings 17 and 24 are disposed as inthe first described form of the invention and the ringsections haveopenings 35 'for. the escape of gases to the opening 23 of the upper s001.

The constructions illustrated in igures 7 to 10 have an advantage overthat of F igure 1 in that ordinary standard collars may be employed forthe suspension of the casings and the forms shown in Figures 1 and 10differ from the others in that they permit of the use of stack-sectionsof materially reduced height.

All of the forms herein shown and described have common characteristicswhich distinguish them favorably from other well structures heretoforeused but we reserve the privilege ofprotectin any features ofconstruction in the modifications, not found in the preferred form ofthe invention, in applications for patent divisional of the present one.

Variations in construction and'arrangement of parts other than thoseherein disclosed, may be resorted to within the scope of the inventionas defined in the hereunto appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. In well construction, the combination of acasing, a collar on the casingfa stack-sec tion, a suspension-elementheld in an inactive condition on the section and adapted to cooperatewith the collar for suspension of the casing, when released, and meansto release the suspension-element.

2. In well construction, the combination of a casing,,a collar on thecasing, a stack-section, a spring-urgedsuspension-element held in aninactive condition on the section and adapted to cooperate with thecollar for suspension of the casing, when released, and means to releasethe suspension-element.

3. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on thecasing, upper and lower stack sections, a suspension-element held in aninactive condition on said upper section and adapted to cooperate withthe collar for suspension of the casing, when released, and means toautomatically release the suspension-element by movement of the sectiononto a supporting surface of said lower section.

4. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on thecasing, upper and lower stack-sections, and an element on the uppersection adapted to be removed from the upper section and placedon thelower section and thereby cooperate with the collar to suspend thecasing from the lower section.

5. In well constructiomthe combinationof a casing. a. collar on thecasing. upper and lower stack-sections, an elementon the upper sectionadapted to be removed from the upper suspend the casing in the stack bycooperasection and placed on the lower section to tion with the collar,the upper section having means to hold the element in an inactivecondition, and means on the lower section to release the'element whenthe upper section is moved onto the lower one.

6. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on thecasing, upper and lower stack-sections, an element on the upper sectionadapted to be removed from the upper section and placed on the lowersection to suspend the casing in the stack by cooperation with thecollar, the upper section having means to hold the element in aninactive condition, and means to release the element when the uppersection is in place' on the lower section.

7. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a shoulderedcollar on the casing, a shouldered stack-section, a suspension-elementcomprising ring-members connected by asplit spring and adapted to engagebeneath a shoulder of the collar, the spring being capable of holdingthe members away from the collar by engagement with shoulders of thestack-section, and means for releasing the spring from the shoulders ofthe stack-section.

8. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a shoulderedcollar on the casing, a stack-section, a contractible spring-urgedsuspension-element comprising ring-members adapted to engage beneath ashoulder of the collar, the stack-section having means for holding theelement in an expanded condition, and means for releasing thesuspensionelement from the section.

- 9. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a shoulderedcollar on the casing, a suspension element comprising ring-membersconnected by a split spring and adapted to engage beneath the shoulderof the collar for suspension of the casing, a stack-section having arecess to admit the spring and in said recess, shoulders engaged by thespring to hold the suspension element in an inoperative condition, andmeans to release the spring.

10.'In well construction, the combination of a casing, a shoulder collaron the casing, a suspension-element comprising ring-members connected bya split spring and adapted to engage beneath the shoulder of the collarfor suspension of the casing, a stack-section having a recess to admitthe spring and in said recess, shoulders engaged by the spring to holdthe suspension-element in an inoperative condition, the ring-membersbeing proportioned relative to the recess to project below the sectionwhen the spring engages the shoulders in the recess thereof, and meansto release the spring.

11. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar at anend thereof, two stack sections, one placed upon the other, a suspensionmeans held in inactive position between said stack sections and adaptedto be moved into engagement with the collar and the lower section andthereby suspend the operate with said collar to suspend said cas-' ingfrom said lower stack-section.

13. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on saidcasing, upper and lower stack-sections, an element adapted to be removedfrom said upper section and placed on said lower section to suspend saidcasing in the stack by cooperation with said collar, said upper sectionprovided with means to hold said element in an inactive condition, andmeans on the lower section adapted to release said element when saidupper section is moved onto said lower section.

14;. In well, construction, the combination of a casing, a collar onsaid casing, upper and lower stack-sections, means adapted to be removedfrom said upper section and placed on said lower section for suspendingthe casing in the stack by cooperation with said collar, means on saidupper section for holding said removable means in an inactive condition,

and means on said lower section to release said removable means whensaid upper section is moved onto said lower section.

15. In well construction, the combination. of a casing, a collar on saidcasing, upper and lower stack-sections, means associated with I andadapted to be removed from said upper section and placed on saidlowers'ection for suspending said casing in said stack by cooperationwith said collar, meanson said upper section for holding said removablemeans in an inactive condition, and'meanson said lower, section adaptedto release said removable means when said upper section is moved ontosaid lower section. 1

16. In well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on saidcasing, upper and associated with said upper section and adapted to beremoved from said section and placed on said lower section forsuspending said casing in said stackby cooperation with said collar,means'for holding said spring actuated means in'inactive condition, andmeans on said lower section or releasing said spring holding saidsuspension element in inactive condition, and means to automaticallyrelease said suspension element by movement of said upper section onto asupporting surface of said lower section. I

19. In a well construction, the combination of a casing, a collar on oneend of said casing, upper and lower stack-section, a spring urgedsuspension element held in inactive condition on said upper section andadapted to cooperate with said collar for suspending said casing, meansfor holding said element in inactive condition, and means to"automatically releasesaid element by movement of said upper sectiononto said lower section.

In testimony whereof we have aifixed our signatures. v

QI-IARLES L. DEAN.

FRANK A. LOCKWOOD.

GEORGE B. RICHIE.

' lower stack-sections, spring actuated means actuated means when saidupper section is.

moved onto said lower section.

17. In well construction, the combmation of a caslng, a collarpn one endof said casing,

' upper and lower stack-sections, spring urged means normally associatedwith said upper section and adapted to be removed therefrom and placedon said lower section for suspending said casing in said stack bycooperation with said collar, -means for holding said spring urged meansin inactive condition, and

means on said lower section adapted to release said spring urged meanswhen said upper section is moved onto said lower section.

18. In well construction, the combination of a casin a collar on one endof said casing, upper an lower stack-sections, a suspension element heldin inactive condition on said upper section and adapted to cooperatewith said

